Washing machine and method



Nov. 14, 1944. w, w w JR 2,362,871

WASHING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 21, 1940 Eva . Inventcjn: George W \X/ardwe H, Jr:

64) His Attorneg.

Patented Nov, 14, 1944 WASHING MACHINE AND METHOD George W. Wardwell, Jr., Nichols, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company; a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1940, Serial No. 320,057

3 Claims.

ing my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modification.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown washing machine having an outer casing I provided with a cover 2. In the lower part of the casing and above the normal water level therein is a rotatable tub 3 for receiving clothes to be washed and centrifugally dried. The tub has side walls I flaring downward and outward from thetop and connected to a bottom wall 5.- At the region of greatest diameter are discharge openings 6 through which liquid is centrifugally discharged upon rotation of the tub. Surrounding the discharge openings 6 is a chamber I formed by walls 8 fixed to the receptacle side walls above the openings 6 and extending downward and outward therefrom to a point. 9 and thence extending downward and inward beneath the bottom wall 5 of the tub and having the inner edges thereof defining an opening l beneath the center of the tub. At the top of the tub is a rim ll comprising walls I! extenchng downward over the upper end of the side.walls I and fixed thereto, and walls l3 extending radially inward and upward from the top edge of the sidewalls. The walls l3 are imperforate adjacent the upper edge of the side walls and at the inner part are provided with openings ll definingthe liquid level in the tub. During washing, the liquid in the tub overflows through the openings l4 and falls onto an annular filter ii of cloth or wire mesh screen secured at its inner edge to a flange I6 integral with the lower end of the walls 12 and extending outward and upward therefrom. At its outer edge the filter i is provided with a stiffening ring ll. Due to the upward inclination of the filter l5 a trough is provided for receiving the liquid overflowing the openings l4. Under normal operation the liquid flows through the filter, and the solid particles entrained in the liquid are retained on the filter. If the filter should become clogged the liquid will flow over the upper edge of the filter. In either case the liquid falling on the filter is returned to the bottom of the casing l whence it is returned to the tub by a pump it having its intake conduit l9 connected to a drain opening 20 in the bottom wall 2| of the outer casing and having its dis-v charge conduit 22 extending upward along the outside of easing i and in through an opening 23 in the cover 2 above the top opening of the tub 3.

The pump it is operated throughout the washing operation and continually circulates liquid from the bottom of the outer casing to the receptacle, whence it overflows through the openings H and is filtered by the filter 15.

Within the tub is an agitator 24 having a vertical hub 25 terminating at its lower end in a disk 26 adjacent the bottom wall 5 of the tub. Projecting from the agitator hub are three radial blades 21 which, upon oscillation of the agitator, agitate the liquid and clothes for washing. Beneath the agitator disk 26 are drain openings 28 in the bottom wall 5 of the tub.

The machine is operated by a vertical shaft 28 extending upward from the bottom of the outer casing through a sleeve 30, the upper end of which is above the normal water level in the casing. The shaft 29 is selectively oscillated at washing speed to oscillate the agitator or rotated at centrifugal drying speed to rotate the tub by suitable mechanism located beneath the bottom wall 2| of the casing. Suitable mechanism for selectively oscillating and rotating the shaft and for supporting and driving the agitator and tub is well understood in the art and illustration thereof is not required for the purposes of the present invention. Such mechanism may, for example, be that shown in Patent 2,161,618- G. W. Dunham.

In the use of the washing machine the clothes are loaded in the tub 3, and an amount of liquid slightly greater than the capacity of the tub 3 is put in the outer casing I. The pump I8 is then started to pump the liquid from the casing I to the tub 3. When the tub 3 is full, the agitator 24 is oscillated at washing speed by the shaft 29. The operation of the pump I8 continues throughout the washing operation, and the liquid overflowing the openings It at the top of the tub falls onto the filter I5 and is filtered and returned to thebottom of the casing I. During the washing operation, liquid is therefore continually withdrawn from the tub, filtered, and the filtered liquid returned to the tub. At the conclusion of the washing operation, oscillation of the agitator 24 and the operation of the pump iii are stopped and the tub is rotated at centrifugal extracting speed by the shaft, causing part of the liquid to be oentrifugally discharged over the upper edge of the tub. Some of this liquid falls on the filter I5. Since the filter is rotating, the liquid falling thereon is thrown radially outward along the upp r surface of the filter by centrifugal force, flushing lint and solid particles off the upper surface of the filter. All of the liquid discharged from the tub collects in the bottom of the casing l. The rest of the washing liquid remains in the tub in an annular layer on the tub side walls as indicated by the dotted line 32. The foregoing operation may be termed the preliminary drying operation. The tub is now stopped and the annular layer of liquid indicated by the dotted lines 32, being no longer held by centrifugal force againstathe tub side walls, is drained to the casing I through openings 6 and 23. All of the washing liquid in the bottom of the casing i may be pumped to a drain by removing th pump discharge conduit 22 from the cover and connecting it to a drain. Rinsing liquid is then introduced into the tub 3 through a conduit 3!, and the tub is rotated at centrifugal extracting speed by the shaft 29, causing the liquid and clothes to be thrown outward against the side walls of the tub in an annular layer indicated by the dotted lines 32. Any excess rinsing liquid is eentrifugally discharged either through the openings i l or through the opening it. The clothes while against the side walls of the tub are subjected to agitation due to the turbulence oi the liquid under centrifugal force, and the resultant fiemng of the fibers of the clothes removes the washing solution from the clothes. At the conclusion of the rinsing operation the rotation of the tub is stopped, and as soon as the speed of rotation decreases to a point at which the centrifugal force is insumcient to hold the liquid and clothes against the tub side walls, the liquid and clothes fall to the bottom of the tub and the liquid is drained therefrom through openings t and 28. This liquid, which contains a substantial part oi the washing solution, falls into the bottom of the casing i and is stored therein. When the liquid is drained from the tub ii there remains a substantial amount of liquid which is absorbed in the clothes. This liquid is removed by again rotating the tub 3 at its extracting speed. During this rotation the residual liquid in the clothes is centrifugally discharged through openings 5 to the chamber 3 beneath the bottom oi. the tub. The chamber l is of such size that all or? the liquid absorbed in the clothes can be held therein. When the clothes are dry the rotation of the tub ii is stopped and the liquid in the chamber 'J drains to the casing 9 through the opening 1%. p

The clothes, which have been washed, rinsed, and dried, may now be removed from the tub. To Wash a succeeding batch of clothes, the liquid in the bottom of the casing is pumped to the tub 3 and additional washing compound added.

The modification shovm in Fig. 2 is similar to the previously described construction, correspond ing parts being indicated by the same reference numerals. In the modification the intake of the pump it is at all times connected by a conduit to an opening 36 in an annular trough on the inner walls of the outer casing i. The trough 355 is arranged to catch liquid centrifugally discharged from the tub so that such liquid be kept from mixing with the liquid in the bot tom. of the casing. A valve it is arranged in the intake conduit it connected to the opening to in the casing bottom wall 25. When the valve 38 is open the pump draws liquid from both the trough 38 and the bottom of the casing. When the valve 36 is closed the pump draws liquid only from the trough 35. The rim 8! of the tub is is provided with openings 38 extending closer to the upper edge of the tub side walls 5 than the openings ll in the previously described construction. The openings 38 limit the amount oi liquid which can be held on the tub side walls during centrifugal drying. In all other respects the modification is the same as the previously described construction.

In the use of the modification the outer casing I is filled with an amount of liquid slightly greater than the capacity of the tub 3, the valve to is opened, and the pump it is started to pump liquid from the-bottom of the easing into the tub 3. The tub is then loaded with clothes and the agitator 24 oscillated at washing speed by the shaft 29. The operation of the pump continues throughout the washing operation and the excess liquid overflows through the openings to and falls on the filter l5, through which it flows to the outer casing. During washing, liquid is continually withdrawn from th tub 3, filtered, and returned thereto. At the conclusion of the washing operation the oscillation of the agitator and the rotation of the pump 18 are stopped and the tub is rotated at centrifugal extracting speed by the shaft 29, causing part of the liquid to be centrifugally discharged over the upper edge of the tub through openings 38. Some of this liquid falls on the filter l5 and, since the filter is rotating, is thrown outward over the upper edge of the filter by centrifugal force, flushing lint and solid particles from the upper surface of the filter. This rotation of the tub continues until the liquid remaining in the tub assumes the position indicated by dotted lines 39, at which time the rotation is stopped and the liquid remaining in the tub is drained to the casing i through openings 6 and 28. The valve 36 is then shut and the pump discharge conduit 22 is removed from the cover 2 and connected to a drain. The tub 3 is rotated by the shaft 29 at centrifugal extractin speed and rinsing liquid is introduced to the tub through the conduit 3!. The'liquid and clothes are thrown outward by centrifugal force against the side walls 4 and form an annular layer thereon indicated by dotted lines 39. The introduction of rinsing liquid is continued and the excess liquid is centrilugally discharged through the openings 38 against the side walls of the outer casing l whence it falls into the trough and is pumped by the pump to the drain. The layer of liquid indicated by the dotted lines 3?? covers the clothes and cushions the im act of the, rinsing liquid on the clothes and prevents damage to the fibers of he clothes. There is also some agitation oi the clothes in the layer of liquid lining the tub side s, this agitation flexes the fibers oi" the clot a and assists in re moving the wesh'ng sel 21 therefrom. The introduction of rinsing liquid the rotation of the tub continue until the clothes have had the desired amount of rotation of the tub is then stopped, as soon as the speed is decreased to a point t which the liquid and clothes can no longer 21 by centrifugal force against the side walls of tub, the liquid and clothes fall to the cc of the tuh the liquid drains to the outer casing through openings 6 and 28. The residual liquid absorbed by the clothes is removed therefrom "oy again rotating the tub at its extracting speed. This liquid washing solution which has been stored in the bottom of the casing may be pumped into the tub 3.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing'machine, a rotatable tub for receiving clothes to be rinsed and centrifugally dried having side walls provided with'centrifugal discharge openings in the region of greatest diameter, walls on the tub extending radially in-i ward of said discharge openings for retaining an annular layer of liquid on said side walls during extracting and for providing a chamber outside the tub and radially outward of said discharge openings for receiving liquid discharged from said openings, and a continuously open drain for the tub and chamber radially inward of said an nular layer of liquid through which liquid in the tub and chamber drains when the tub is stationary.

2. In a washing machine, a rotatable tub for receiving clothes to be rinsed and centritugally dried having side walls flaring downward and outward from the top and having centrifugal discharge openings in the region of greatest diameter, walls on the tub extending radiallyinward of said discharge openings for retaining an annular layer of liquid on said side walls during extracting and for providing a chamber outside the tub and radially outward of said discharge openings for receiving liquid discharged from said openings, and a continuously open drain for the tub and chamber radially inward of said annular layer of liquid through which liquid in the tub and chamber drains when the tub is stationary.

3. The method of operating a washing machine having a spinner basket with walls for retainin an annular layer of liquid in the basket during centrifuging, said walls including a chamber having a part radially outside the basket and having a drain for the chamber radially inward of said part, which comprises charging the basket with clothes, adding rinse liquid and rotating the basket at a speed sufficient to centrifugally fill the chamber with liquid and to hold the clothes and liquid in an annular layer in the basket by centrifugal force, retarding the basket to drain the chamber, and then rotating the basket to centritugally discharge into the chamber the liquid remaining in the clothes.

GEORGE W. WARDWELL. JR. 

